BAHAMAS

WELCOME TO THE BAHAMAS

One step onto the Bahamian archipelago and you’ll realize the nation’s beauty extends far beyond its extraordinary natural wonders. With smiles on the faces of the Bahamian people, the unique sounds of our rich culture, and the warm hospitality of our heritage and our colorful history, the Bahamas is a world within itself. The Bahamas archipelago is an ecological oasis sprinkled over 100,000 square miles of ocean, starting just 50 miles off the coast of Florida. It comprises 700 breathtaking islands, over 2,000 rocks and cays, and boasts the clearest water on the planet—with a visibility of over 200 feet. You can see your toes as easily as you can the world’s third largest fringing barrier reef. With so much nature, culture, and history to explore and experience, it’s time to head to the Bahamas!

ATTRACTIONS

For those who enjoy the thrills and spills of a waterpark, you can head to Aquaventure at Atlantis on Paradise Island. You don’t need to be a guest of the hotel to get yourself a day pass to the waterpark! With slides, a lazy rivers, and pools, there is something for everyone. You can float your worries away or challenge your travel companions to a race down the slide. Either way, don’t forget the sunscreen!

Lovers of animals should plan to spend some time at the Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre in Nassau. This small zoo specializes in animal rehabilitation and making sure that these animals can lead healthy, happy lives. Situated within a tropical garden, Ardastra is a little exotic oasis for its visitors. You’ll be able to meet flamingoes, parrots, lemurs, iguanas, and more at this little zoo.

It’s no secret that visitors flock to the Bahamas for its sunny and sandy shores. Junkanoo Beach in Nassau is a fun and lively destination for the day. Not only that, but there are vendors up and down Junkanoo’s shores that rent out kayaks, waterbikes, and paddleboards so you can go exploring the beautiful Caribbean blue.

ENTERTAINMENT

If there’s one thing that’s true about the Bahamas is that they are a culture centered on music and celebration. So its no wonder that the Bahamian Carnival, held every May, is one of the biggest in the Caribbean. Not only that, but the Bahamas has several other festivals that are often considered mini-Carnivals, such as Junkanoo, which happens in December. It isn’t hard to find something to celebrate when you live in such a beautiful part of the world.

The Bahamas are one of the more populous countries in the Caribbean, so it isn’t surprising that the country can support several sports past times. The most popular of which are basketball, cricket, rugby, and soccer. There are often games, tournaments, and amateur events where anyone can participate. With national basketball, soccer, and cricket teams, you may even be able to catch a game!

When you retreat you the Bahamas, you are guaranteed to experience the phenomenon known as “Island Time.” With “Island Time” comes a relaxed party vibe. It almost seems as though every street corner has a cocktail lounge or neighborhood bar where you can meet locals and enjoy the atmosphere. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, you can head into Nassau and look for a club or discotheque.

GETTING THERE

The Bahamas’ proximity to Florida means regular, relatively inexpensive flights from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, as well as other East Coast gateways. There are plenty of airline options to choose from, making flying to the Bahamas a breeze. A few airlines fly directly to airports on the larger Out Islands, but the majority of flights arrive in Nassau or Freeport where passengers will connect to another flight before continuing to the Out Islands.

If you’d rather embark on the high seas and journey to the Bahamas via a cruise ship, there are plenty of options available to you for a nautical journey. If you want to explore more of the Bahamas than just one island, you can book yourself a ticket for a ferry excursion to take you to some of the other islands.

GETTING AROUND

Once you arrive at the Bahamas, you are going to want to have a way to get around easily. You can learn more about the different bus services operated on the different islands in the Bahamas at the Bahamas’ tourism site. If you’d rather guide yourself through the streets of the Bahamas, you can rent a car from a local agency.

WILDLIFE/NATURE

For those who want to experience something a little unusual, then head to Pig Beach at Major Cay in Exuma. There are several charters that will take you out to the famed swimming pigs. You’ll be able to relax on the beach and meet these friendly animals as they go about their day swimming and enjoying their own private Caribbean island.

If you’re looking for a true Bahamian beach, head to Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island. While Cabbage Beach is incredibly popular, because it is slightly off the beaten path, you likely won’t feel like the area is overrun with people. You can enjoy the sugar white sandy and crystal blue waters while you soak up as much of the Caribbean sun as you can.

NATIONAL HEROES/MUSEUMS

Sir Sidney Poitier: The famed Bahamian-American actor was born in 1927. He began an acting career in the U.S.A. after serving in World War II. He went on to receive an Academy Award for Best Actor, and became the first black man to win this award. After semi-retiring from acting, Sir Poitier became the Bahamian Ambassador to Japan (2001-2007) and to UNESCO (2002-2007).

Tonique Williams-Darling: The track and field athlete was a sprint runner. She led the Bahamas to the 2004 Olympics in Athens where she won the gold medal for the 400-meter dash.

Art lovers will enjoy some time spent at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas. With art made from local artists, both past and present, the museum showcases the beautiful culture of the island. The museum also hosts events and galleries centered around current and emerging artists, so be sure to see if your travel plans line up with those events.

For those who want to learn more about the island and its cultural history, you can spend part of your day at The Heritage Museum of the Bahamas. You can see artifacts from the indigenous populations, from the colonial period, and more recent artifacts that showcase Bahamian culture. The Museum is part of a “Heritage Village” that showcases various cultural elements of the island.

ECO-TOURISM

When you think of the Caribbean, chances are you think of the famed green sea turtle. Lucky for you, Bahamas AquaSeas Adventures has a tour designed all around the green sea turtle for those who want to see these magnificent creatures in the wild. With multiple stops in various locations, you’re sure to learn a lot about these unique creatures during your excursion.

For those with nerves of steal, you can embark on the Grand Bahama Shark Dive operated by Reef Oasis Dive Club. You’ll get to come face to face with blacktip reef, lemon, and nurse sharks thanks to the help of a professional shark diver. For those who aren’t quite as keen to jump in the water with a bunch of sharks, they offer plenty of snorkeling tours as well.

DONATE

The Bahamas was severely impacted by the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian in September of 2019. So, to help aid in the efforts to rebuild the nation, you can donate to the Bahamas Red Cross.

The National Flag:
The national flag of the Bahamas consists of a black triangle situated at the hoist with three horizontal bands: aquamarine, gold and aquamarine.

ENTERTAINMENT UPDATE

TOURISM UPDATE

The Bahamas are taking the possibility of COVID-19 seriously. At present, stricter border measures, travel restrictions keeping Bahamians from leaving, and a country-wide curfew. The Bahamas is going to do all it can to prevent the spread of this new virus throughout its islands.